Shows / The Non-Billable Podcast
The Non-Billable Podcast
The Non-Billable Podcast takes UK legal professionals beyond the billable hour, bringing you interviews with top lawyers, law firm leaders, industry experts and legal tech innovators to uncover actionable insights on the business of law, career growth and the future of the industry. Hosted by Oliver Attinger, a former finance lawyer at a leading City law firm, and brought to you by Non-Billable, the legal media platform for City lawyers, in-house counsel, and legal professionals.
Episodes
The Non-Billable PodcastWhy Weil collapsed and what it means for Big Law with Yale Law School professor John Morley
Weil was still generating more than $2 billion a year when its partnership unravelled. Yale Law School professor John Morley says that its collapse was driven…
The Non-Billable PodcastInside offshore law with Harneys global boss William Peake
Offshore law firms play a central role in major cross-border deals and disputes, yet the market remains unfamiliar to many lawyers. Harneys global managing…
The Non-Billable PodcastWhy the UK’s biggest law firms are pulling away from the rest of the market
PwC’s latest law firm survey points to a growing divide in the UK legal market. The largest firms are pulling ahead, specialist players are finding profitable…
The Non-Billable PodcastInside King & Spalding’s London growth push with managing partner Tom Sprange
King & Spalding is in growth mode in London. The office increased revenue by 48% last year, has expanded its footprint at 8 Bishopsgate and recently hired a…
The Non-Billable PodcastJeanette Burgess on taking Walker Morris beyond £100m and saying no to private equity
Walker Morris has nearly doubled in size over the past seven years while holding on to a model that looks increasingly distinctive: one office in Leeds and no…
The Non-Billable PodcastCharles Russell Speechlys boss Simon Ridpath on building a law firm around private capital
Charles Russell Speechlys has expanded rapidly under managing partner Simon Ridpath, opening in Milan and Singapore before making a defining move into the US…
The Non-Billable PodcastChristian Bartsch on Bird & Bird’s path to €1bn
Christian Bartsch is the CEO of Bird & Bird, the international law firm built around technology, IP and regulation. He joined the firm in 2007, became CEO in…
The Non-Billable PodcastLewis Silkin’s Jo Farmer on why two managing partners are better than one
Jo Farmer, joint managing partner of Lewis Silkin, joins the podcast to discuss the firm’s rapid growth and the strategy behind it. She explains why Lewis…
The Non-Billable PodcastHow David Beech built Knights into a £200m law firm
David Beech, CEO of listed law firm Knights, joins the podcast to discuss how he has built one of the UK's largest regional legal businesses since buying the…
The Non-Billable PodcastInside Mayer Brown’s London private capital push
Dom Griffiths, London managing partner of Mayer Brown, joins the podcast to discuss the strategy behind one of the firm's strongest years in London. He…
The Non-Billable PodcastRichard Medd on Browne Jacobson’s growth strategy
Richard Medd, managing partner of Browne Jacobson, joins the podcast to discuss how the firm has doubled revenue over the past six years - revenue for the most…
The Non-Billable PodcastWhat Microsoft expects from its law firms in the AI era
Rebecca Anderson, Microsoft's head of legal for EMEA, joins the podcast to discuss how the in-house function at one of the world's biggest tech companies is…
The Non-Billable PodcastSidley executive committee chair Brian Fahrney on London, talent and the global elite
Brian Fahrney, chair of Sidley Austin's executive committee, joins the podcast to discuss the firm's transformation into one of the fastest-growing US law…
The Non-Billable PodcastBCLP senior partner Segun Osuntokun on growth, mergers and weekend emails
Segun Osuntokun, senior partner at BCLP, joins the podcast to discuss leadership, firm strategy and what it takes to run a global law firm while continuing to…
The Non-Billable PodcastPrivate equity and the future of law firms | Podcast special
Private equity investment in law firms has become one of the most talked-about trends in the legal industry. But how much is actually happening? Why are…
The Non-Billable PodcastThe business of international arbitration with Boies Schiller’s Tim Foden
Tim Foden is co-head of the international arbitration group at Boies Schiller Flexner in London. In this episode, he joins the podcast to discuss his path into…
The Non-Billable PodcastWhy US firms are still winning the talent battle in London
Headhunter Scott Gibson returns to the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on what’s going on in the London partner market. As co-founder of Edwards…
The Non-Billable PodcastInside Lawfront: The PE-backed law firm group betting big on consolidation
Axel Koelsch, COO of private equity-backed legal group Lawfront, joins the podcast to discuss how outside investment is reshaping the UK legal market and why…
The Non-Billable PodcastHow private equity is changing the legal market in Sweden
In this episode, Maria-Pia Hope - former managing partner of top Swedish law firm Vinge and now CEO of private equity-backed legal group AGRD - explains why…
The Non-Billable PodcastThe private wealth opportunity behind Taylor Wessing’s US merger
Today, we unpack the private wealth angle of Taylor Wessing’s merger with Winston & Strawn. Partners Gabriel Estevez and Nick Warr explain how the firm defines…
The Non-Billable PodcastA psychologist on why lawyers burn out
In this episode, Dr Catherine Sykes, a psychologist and coach who works with City lawyers, explains why burnout is so common among high-performing…
The Non-Billable PodcastThe rise of the $30m law firm partner: Inside the US Big Law market
In this episode, David Nicol, headhunter and co-head of Marsden’s US practice, breaks down the structure of the US legal market and how it has evolved over the…
The Non-Billable PodcastHow to drive change inside a global law firm: White & Case innovation chief Isabel Parker
Isabel Parker, chief innovation officer at White & Case, joins the podcast to talk about what it takes to drive innovation inside a global law firm. A former…
The Non-Billable PodcastHow Broadfield is rethinking the mid-market law firm model
John Hutchinson, managing partner of top 100 law firm Broadfield, joins the podcast to discuss the firm’s transformation from BDB Pitmans into a tech-enabled…
The Non-Billable PodcastHow AI-powered Lawhive plans to build a global consumer law firm
Pierre Proner is the CEO and co-founder of Lawhive. He joins the podcast to explain how his company is combining AI with a regulated law firm model to rethink…
The Non-Billable PodcastInside Ropes & Gray's Europe strategy: Private capital, Milan and an all-equity partnership
Ropes & Gray has been quietly rolling out one of the most ambitious European growth strategies among US firms in London. In this episode, London managing…
The Non-Billable Podcast'AI is a top priority': Peter Duffy on the tech bets reshaping Big Law
Legal tech has gone from “let’s run a few pilots” to “we need to scale this across the whole firm” - and Peter Duffy says that shift is now well underway in…
The Non-Billable PodcastDWF boss Matt Doughty on life after listing and why most firms aren’t ready for PE
In this episode, we sit down with DWF CEO Matt Doughty to discuss what comes next for the UK’s biggest private equity-owned law firm. We discuss DWF’s…
The Non-Billable PodcastHow law firms win the AI race: Alex Kardos-Nyheim on data, defensibility and staying power
Alex Kardos-Nyheim is the founder of SafeSign Technologies and now co-lead of AI research at Thomson Reuters. Alex built a legal-specific large language model…
The Non-Billable PodcastEx-DLA Piper boss Simon Levine on why Europe is the next big opportunity for UK firms
In this episode, we speak with Simon Levine, former global co-CEO of DLA Piper and now an adviser to Shoosmiths, about leadership, strategy and where Big Law…
The Non-Billable PodcastDo law firm mergers actually work?
In this episode, we’re joined by Robert Millard, founder of Cambridge Strategy Group and one of the leading thinkers on law firm strategy and mergers. Robert’s…
The Non-Billable PodcastInside the battle for the City’s best associate talent
In this episode, we sit down with Ria Karnik, who leads the associate recruitment team in London at Major, Lindsey & Africa, to unpack what’s really happening…
The Non-Billable PodcastWhy more Big Law partners are choosing to go it alone
James Hacking and Mike Estill from Kindleworth join the show to unpack one of the more salient shifts in Big Law right now: senior partners leaving large firms…
The Non-Billable PodcastQuinn Emanuel co-founder John Quinn on building a global disputes powerhouse
John Quinn is one of the most influential figures in modern Big Law. In this episode, he reflects on how Quinn Emanuel grew from a four-lawyer spin-out in Los…
The Non-Billable PodcastThe US law firm shaking up London - with partner pay Big Law rivals can't match
Pierson Ferdinand launched in January 2024 in what it says was the largest law firm debut in US history - starting with around 130 partners and growing to more…
The Non-Billable PodcastLeaving Big Law to start an AI-enabled boutique
In this episode, we speak with Simon Leaf - a former Mishcon de Reya partner who has launched Three Points Law, a tech-enabled boutique focused on technology…
The Non-Billable PodcastInside $1.8bn Legora: Alex Fortescue-Webb on the legal AI platform race
Alongside Harvey, Legora has quickly become a frontrunner in the legal AI platform race, offering lawyers a suite of productivity tools for contract review…
The Non-Billable PodcastHow a 245-year-old City firm stays ahead: Wedlake Bell’s Camilla Wallace on external capital, culture and what juniors want today
In this episode, we sit down with Camilla Wallace, senior partner of Wedlake Bell. A private client specialist who has spent 18 years at the firm, Camilla…
The Non-Billable PodcastWhy private equity wants a piece of Big Law: Former A&O boss David Morley on what's really happening
Private equity is closing in on the legal industry, and few people have a better vantage point than David Morley, former managing and senior partner at Allen &…
The Non-Billable PodcastThe $20m law firm partner: Headhunter Siobhán Lewington on the battle for Big Law talent
In this episode, Siobhán Lewington, partner at leading legal headhunter Macrae, joins us to unpack what’s driving the lateral partner market in London. A…
The Non-Billable PodcastHarvey: Inside the $5bn legal AI startup taking over Big Law with chief business officer John Haddock
Harvey has become the poster child of the legal AI boom - used by over half of the top 100 US law firms and backed by more than $700 million in funding. But…
The Non-Billable PodcastLessons from a Big Law leader: Charlie Geffen on US dominance, the rise of private equity, transatlantic mergers, and why striking deals with Trump made sense for some
Few people have had a closer view of the modern City law market than Charlie Geffen. As former senior partner at Ashurst, he helped build one of London’s top…
The Non-Billable PodcastWhy Hogan Lovells built a 100-person legal tech company: Sebastian Lach on what clients actually want from AI
Hogan Lovells might not be the first name that comes up in conversations about legal AI, but maybe it should. The firm quietly spun up ELTEMATE, a 100-person…
The Non-Billable PodcastInside McDermott's $2.8bn merger: London managing partner Aymen Mahmoud on building a transatlantic private capital powerhouse
McDermott has just completed one of the biggest Big Law mergers in recent years, tying up with New York’s Schulte Roth & Zabel to create a $2.8 billion…
The Non-Billable PodcastWhy Hill Dickinson sponsored Everton's new stadium: Peter Jackson on bold marketing bets and lessons from 20 years at the top
Hill Dickinson made headlines earlier this year with one of the boldest law firm marketing moves in recent memory: a multi-million pound deal to put its name…
The Non-Billable Podcast'The reality is very different': KPMG legal chief Stuart Bedford on what people get wrong about the Big Four’s legal ambitions
What role do the Big Four really play in the legal market, and how different are they from traditional firms? In this episode, we sit down with Stuart Bedford…
The Non-Billable Podcast'Some firms won't survive': Simmons senior partner Julian Taylor on the legal AI reckoning, NQ pay wars and the US firm challenge
Julian Taylor is senior partner at Simmons & Simmons and one of the City’s most highly regarded employment lawyers. He’s spent over 25 years at the firm and…
The Non-Billable PodcastWhy investors are eyeing law firms: Burford Capital’s Travis Lenkner on how external capital is changing the market and why Burford prefers minority stakes
Private equity and other forms of external capital are moving into the legal sector - a shift that is very likely to reshape law firm strategy. In this…
The Non-Billable PodcastThe $100m legal AI startup transforming in-house teams: Wordsmith CEO Ross McNairn on turning legal into a revenue driver
Ross McNairn is the founder and CEO of Wordsmith, one of the fastest-growing legal AI startups in Europe. In this episode, Ross shares how Wordsmith is…
The Non-Billable PodcastPrivate equity is circling the legal industry: Rosenblatt rescue dealmaker Adil Taha on law firm deals, PE strategy and the exit problem
In this episode, we’re joined by Adil Taha, a former investment banker, private equity executive and one of the most experienced PE figures operating in the UK…
The Non-Billable PodcastHow top firms compete for talent: City headhunter Ed Parker on the high-stakes game of elite lateral partner hiring
In this episode, we’re joined by Ed Parker, managing director at Fides Search and one of the most trusted headhunters in the City legal market. With nearly two…
The Non-Billable PodcastThe boutique that beat the Magic Circle: How Quinn Emanuel built the most successful litigation practice in London
In this episode, we sit down with Richard East, the founding partner of Quinn Emanuel’s London office - the litigation powerhouse that has gone from a 2008…
The Non-Billable PodcastRunning legal at a hypergrowth tech company: Figma's international legal head Jonathan Keen on AI, expansion and EU red tape
In this episode, we speak with Jonathan Keen, head of international legal at Figma - one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the world. Jonny leads legal…
The Non-Billable PodcastHow ex-Freshfields lawyer Richard Mabey built Juro into one of Europe’s top legal tech startups: unlearning lawyering, agentic AI in legal and the future of junior lawyers
In this episode, we sit down with Richard Mabey, the co-founder and CEO of Juro. A former Freshfields lawyer, Richard left private practice in 2013 to pursue…
The Non-Billable PodcastInside Perkins Coie’s London play: City veteran Ian Bagshaw on launching a US firm in a crowded market, attracting the best talent, and the rise of private capital
Ian Bagshaw is a City law private equity partner now heading up the London office of US law firm Perkins Coie which he launched in 2024. A highly experienced…
The Non-Billable PodcastHow A&O Shearman's legal tech incubator helps keep it ahead in the innovation game - with Shruti Ajitsaria, head of Fuse
Shruti Ajitsaria is a partner at A&O Shearman and the head of Fuse, the firm’s legal tech incubator. Since launching Fuse in 2017, Shruti has helped A&O engage…
The Non-Billable PodcastThe City lawyer behind Garfield AI: the UK’s first AI law firm
In this episode, we speak with Philip Young - a former City litigation partner, founder of boutique firm Cooke, Young & Keidan, and now co-founder of Garfield…
The Non-Billable PodcastInside Addleshaw Goddard’s legal tech strategy: innovation head Kerry Westland on managing a 70-person team, the explosive rise of AG’s internal AI tool, and what the future of law looks like
Kerry Westland leads one of the most ambitious innovation functions of any major law firm - a 70-person team at Addleshaw Goddard dedicated to transforming how…
The Non-Billable PodcastGeneral counsel at a Premier League football club: Fulham FC’s Peter Limbert on multimillion-pound transfers, sell-ons and staying calm in football’s chaos
In this episode, we sit down with Peter Limbert, general counsel at Fulham Football Club, to explore what it really means to be the top lawyer at a Premier…
The Non-Billable PodcastThe lawyer behind the biggest class action in British legal history: Tom Goodhead on building Pogust Goodhead and its $550m bet to take on the global litigation elite
In this conversation, we speak with Tom Goodhead, managing partner of Pogust Goodhead, one of the UK's fastest-growing litigation firms. Tom shares the…